Defadar Aslam Khan slipped and fell into the river during a search and cordon operation in Wusan area of the central Kashmir district on Friday, an Army official said.

A rescue operation was launched immediately, but the soldier could not be saved. His body was later fished out from the river, the official said. A wreath-laying ceremony was held in the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps headquarters on Saturday to pay tribute to the soldier.

Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon and others paid homage to the soldier in a solemn ceremony at the Badami Bagh cantonment, the official added.